After submitting your paper to a journal, you must wait for the Editor-in-Chief (or his deputy) to make a decision on your paper. If your paper goes through the full review process, the Editor will ask reviewers to make recommendations. Finally, the great day arrives when you receive the Editor’s decision, and the reviewer comments.

If the Editor requests a revision, you now have a very important task to do: respond to the reviewer comments. The most important things to remember are:

• Be fast
  
• Be polite
• Be clear

Be Fast

Most research is time-sensitive. Perhaps some other group is working on the same problem as you. You want to be first to publish.

If the reviewers have requested further research to strengthen your paper, inform the Editor that you will need extra time to complete the revision. He may be able to flag your paper in the submission system indicating it needs extra time. Some systems time out after a set number of weeks. Read More

Be Polite

Remember that you are dealing with people, not just a faceless submission system. The Editor-in-Chief and the reviewers are just like you—they have feelings, likes and dislikes, and many other calls on their time. They are not infallible, but offer their comments to help you to improve your paper. Read More

Be Clear